God's perfect timing.He is intimately involvedin every beginning and ending.

Each season (or time of life) will soon pass.

Time cannot be stored, stopped, or slowed.Because there is a time limitto everything in this life,each experience is a gift that we have been entrustedwith and should not be wasted.The time we have is our gift from God,so we must be mindful that,whatever this moment, it too shall pass.For every birth, there will be a death;whenever someone is crying,someone else is celebrating;and in each season of life,whatever purpose God intendsis the purpose we must livewith a life that glorifies our God.

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:also he hath set the world in their heart,so that no man can find out the workthat God maketh from the beginning to the end." (verse 11)

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God knows the end as well as the beginning.Since He knows the outcome,He can see how each piece of our livesfits into His plan perfectly. Our place is to trust completely in the sovereignty of our Great God.

On the day God called my dad home,I had to remind myself of this very chapter.To every thing there is a season,and the season of my precious dad'slife had come to an end.I wasn't ready to let go and say good-bye,but God's ways are not our ways. There really is a time limit on every thingin this life, and time belongs to God.The memories of my life with my dadwill remain with me, for-ever tucked away in my heart.Thank you Jesus, for the gift of life and memories.I will for-ever love and remember you, Dad.Missing you!

Let my prayer come before Thee, O Lord.Thank you for the eternal lifemy dad has in You, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank you for the gift of timethat was spent with my dear dad.Thank you for his love that was showeredon the lives he touched.Heal our broken and saddened hearts,as only You can do.May we be ever mindful that every momentof every day will soon pass.Therefore, cause us to make every moment count for Your glory.Amen.

47 comments:

Amen, Debbie! He looks like a sweet, loving, happy man. Your post title reminded me of the little praise song, "In His Time." "In his time, in his time, He makes all things beautiful in his time..." God certainly does that with each saint he takes to heaven with him; he makes them beautiful. The hard part is being the one left here! It's a comfort to know this is not really good-bye, but "until later." Praying for your hurt.

I am so sorry for your (temporary) loss of a kind, loving father, Debbie. He looked over you here and he continues to do so from a place where there is "no sorrow or tears." How blessed are we who have faith! For your father, this is only a beginning......

Oh Debbie, your Dad looks so wonderful....I just want to hug him! I am so sorry. It had to be so hard to write this post but it is such a great testimony of your faith and of who God is. So appropriate for a time such as this. Sending love and prayers your way.

Many hugs to you my friend! May the Lord give you much grace and peace and comfort as you walk this path of sorrow. How precious it is to walk this path with HIM! What a wonderful blessing to know that your Dad knows the Lord...and because you are the Lord's as well...you will see him again! I Thessalonians 4:13-18 are such comforting verses at such a time. Much Love, Camille

Dear Debbie, My deepest sympathy in the loss of your dear father. He rests now in the arms of our Lord and HIS plan fulfilled. What a blessing to know he is at peace. I know you miss him terribly and I pray the word of GOD will give you peace and comfort in the days ahead. Your father was an inspiration and will live on in your heart and give you strength.Sending you friendship hugs and prayers my friend.With Sympathy and love, Celeste

Oh my sweet friend...I have tears in my eyes as I am typing these words. What a perfect tribute to your sweet father...these scriptures are so comforting. I have been thinking of you and praying for your family since I heard the news. I love these precious photos of him...what a blessed man he was, no doubt! I will continue to lift you up in the days ahead and may sweet memories of him along with the love and grace of the Lord give you rest and peace.

Sweet Debbie, This is such a precious tribute to the Lord and your Dad! Yes, it is heartbreaking to lose a parent. I lost my dad last summer and my mom almost 14 years ago. I pray that you feel the comfort of our Heavenly Father giving you all you need to move through your grief. You will always miss your daddy. {{hugs}}

This was so beautiful! I am weeping uncontrollably right now. I just lost my best friend for over 30 yrs. No one expected her to pass away just like that. The pain is overwhelming. When my father died, I felt like you. I did not want to lose him because he was my pillar of strength. We had three weeks from his diagnosis and death. How precious those three weeks were to us!Your words were not only comforting, but uplifting at the same time. Thank you for this post. ginny

I was so sad to hear this news, dearest Debbie. I know how your heart must ache to lose your sweet Father. It is comforting to know that he is with Our Lord and at peace, always watching over you and your family until you can be together again. The world has lost a wonderful man, but Heaven has gained an Angel. Wishing I could give you a big hug. A lovely tribute. Sending my deepest condolences and love. Karen

Dearest Debbie, your dad looks like such a wonderful man. I can see the love and kindness in his face and in his eyes. You are so gracious in your loss. You are so right too about God's timing and ways are not ours but he has perfect plans for all of us. This is a loving tribute to both your earthly father and your Heavenly Father. May you be comforted in your grief in the days, weeks and months to come as you know God's promises are true and one day you shall meet your beloved dad again. Hugs. xx

Oh Mom, I cried...and cried...and cried some more. When you told me you had put up a post today I wasn't ready to see it. I thought I was ready this afternoon, but seeing Grandpa and his precious smiling face caused me to crumble. My, he was such a handsome man and his smile...oh his sweet smile was like bright sunshine. You know, you have his smile :)

This was truly a remarkable and touching post. I love what Penny {Joyful} said...you are so gracious in your loss - amen! Thank you for sharing. You are daily on my heart and in my thoughts. I love you!

Oh Debbie, I have been out of loop with blogging and this post is so precious but so heart wrenching. Yes, He makes all things beautiful in His time. I grieved for my dad for 3 years. It's beautiful that you can look at that smile and feel peace. There was so much pain in the end for my dad and it took me longer to see through God's eyes than it should have. I appreciating this season of joy and treasuring my memories of the good days. Your Dady's smile must have been contagious because you are so much like that. Bless you my friend in your days of adjustment.

Debbie, so sorry for your loss, but he has graduated! He finished his course and has moved on to the most wonderful future with his Lord. I know that you have been a shining light even through your grief. You are a reflection of the wonderful man he was. Hugs.

What a lovely legacy your daddy left you to carry in your heart.I am sorry for your sadness, and rejoice with you for the love and salvation your dad knew in Christ.Hugs to you from Shirley in Virginia

Oh, precious Debbie, what an absolutely beautiful tribute to your dear dad! What a beautiful photo of you and him, and I love the others of him. He surely looks like a warm and loving man that you've described. And I know the pain and sorrow of losing him and agree that there is a time and season for all things, especially us. And, truly, we are never really ready to let go of the ones who are so dear and who have made such an imprint on us. Yet, we praise God for the godly man he was and the legacy he has left. And the memories will indeed be more and more precious...and yet the tears will flow. And let them. Remember that Jesus wept, and He wept deeply just as we should. And yes, only God knows how all the pieces fit into His sovereign plan, but we can trust our loving and precious Father. And what know to know that dad is now with Jesus, face to face. It's we who are left behind who grieve. I continue to pray for you as you live each day (and even moment by moment) without your dad. May God continue to give you peace that only He can and allow yourself to rest and to mourn. As another reader said above, it took her three years. Even after fifteen years, I still dearly miss my dad. Our lives are fleeting, and may we glorify Him in all we do, including grieving and sharing our Real Hope, Jesus, our Savior, our only hope of salvation and life after death. Tender hugs and love!

Your post has brought tears to my eyes. This is such a lovely tribute to your precious father. Your photos are so beautiful. I will keep you in my prayers. Sending you much love and many warm hugs. Your dad was a very handsome gentleman, and he has a beautiful daughter in you. God bless you.

Oh Debbie, as I read this post, the spirit of the Lord was so evident as you spoke about the difficult and unexpected loss of your father, and it brought tears to my eyes, because in Christ the sorrow is different - we grieve just as others do, but because of our hope in Christ and eternity, there is a healing balm that comes to the soul in the midst of our grief. Your pictures showcased the loving gentle soul of your father, and you carry his beautiful smile! On earth he is certainly missed, and no one can ever replace a father. Will certainly continue praying for you and your family that the Lord continues to comfort all with His presence!

Good morning, dearest Debbie... Oh, you were on my heart so much yesterday morning, and I was so glad to see you had posted... I know this has been a difficult, challenging, and sad time for you and your precious family...bless you for holding onto the Lord and His plan during this time, and I pray He will continue to uphold and comfort your hearts which are very sore right now as they suffer the loss of someone so dear and special...What special memories you must have of your father! How wonderful that He was a Godly man and father, and that you have the knowledge that He is forever in the presence of our wonderful Saviour!I continue to pray for you, Debbie! Thank you for sharing such beautiful thoughts on Ecclesiastes 3, and I truly appreciated the pictures of your dear dad...I love the one of you both together - beautiful.Blessings and love in the Lord Jesus Christ,Kelly-Anne

Dear Debbie, I had tears in my eyes reading your words of love and missing your sweet Dad, as well as the Lord's promises and ways. I am so sorry that you lost your dear father and I am praying for you, Stephanie, and your family. My heart and thoughts are with you also. What a privilege and blessing it must have been to be his daughter. From his photos, he had that kind of face and smile that you can look at and just know what a pure-hearted, good, kind man he was.

The peace you have from the Lord in this time is an inspiration to all who have experienced loss and I pray that He comforts you continuously as you grieve.Love and warm hugs,Jazzmin

Dear Debbie, this is such a sad time for you and all your family, but your much loved dad is celebrating with the hosts of heaven. He looks like he was a lovely kindly gentleman and I will continue to pray for you all as you grieve.

Debbie, I can hardly see the keys are I type; my eyes are filled with tears.

I can't explain why, I can explain the universe in my heart, in all of our hearts, but there is a constellation of joys, hopes, pains that we all know at some time or another in this web of stardust we call life.

The photos of your dad remind me on mine. I see he loved tinkering in his garage? So did mine. He was happy there, as he was happy at his piano and your dad, happy on the golf course?

These men are special, and forever will be. Oh dearest Lord, you made things ALL in their own time.

Well, now I am crying! He looks like such a happy, good soul, Debbie. It makes me miss my own dad even after all these years. How blessed you were to have him this long in your adult life. I know he is waiting for you and you will all be reunited someday again. xo Diana

What a loving tribute to your dear Dad, Debbie, and you've shared such a perfect verse. I know you are missing your Dad, but like you've shared, the memories will be forever etched in your heart. You have your faith to carry you through and I am thankful for the way you enhance our lives with it. My prayers are with you, my friend. Love, hugs and blessings are sent your way.

Oh my, Debbie. Your strength and dignity through difficult times never fails to amaze me. This post has touched everyone so deeply. You have a way of bringing people together in joy and helping them in grief - even your own. Lots of love to you, sweet friend. You've been in my thoughts each and every day.

Hello...No words because you shared it all with that portion of your scripture and words filled with what we all will experience and what happens every day.You my dear friend are a true and special gem...I miss so many that have gone to their reward!Much Love, And I am still prayingxo Roxy

Such beautiful pictures of your Dad. Praying for continued peace and comfort for you and your family Debbie. Life on Earth is short indeed. So grateful for the promise of our Heavenly home and a reunion with those who have gone on before.

What a beautiful post, Debbie! You made me cry. And the beautiful Anne of Green Gables music was perfect. Your dad sounds like a lovely man. I'm sure your loss is so very huge. Thank God your separation from him is only temporary. One day you will be reunited, and what a day that will be!

Such a wonderful post about your Dad, great photo's. It is such a peaceful feeling knowing that God has him in his care now! I still miss both my parents very much, but so thankful to know they are with our loving father. May God grant you with smiles as you remember your earthly father.

I am so sorry for your loss Debbie. What a beautiful tribute to your dad. He looks like he would have been a sweetheart of a man. You sure do favor him too. I will keep your family in my prayers. I hope you are doing well my friend. Have a blessed rest of the week.

This is such a beautiful tribute to your father, Debbie, Please know that you, and your family have been in my thoughts and prayers so much lately, though we don't know each other, there is one thing that binds our hearts and minds together, and that is the Spirt of a living Lord!May you continue to find comfort in God's unfailing love through His Word.Blessings, Sue

Dear Debbie,Your post is a lovely tribute to your father who looks every bit as wonderful, kind and gentle as you describe. I cannot imagine your sense of loss. You are still in my thoughts and prayers. Sending love and wishing you peace.xoLinda

Oh Debbie, I read this through tears. What a wonderful tribute to your dad. There is no blessing like a great and loving earthly father that gives us a glimpse of our heavenly Father. I know you will continue to miss him until you see him again in God's presence. Missing my sweet dad too. Blessings, friend.

Debbie, Thank you for sharing these precious photos of your dad. What a warm and loving smile. I have kept you and your family in my prayers. May God continue to give you peace and sweet memories. I'm thankful that we each have an Eternal Home. Thankful that your dad is no longer in pain.

I can see from your photos that your dad had a winsome and winning smile. Not many people smile that often, especially in photos. He sure looks like a good guy; my own dad smiled a lot too, maybe they are having a good gab up in heaven.

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Hi, I'm Debbie! My heart is blessed to have you here!

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And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. -Colossians 3:15-17

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The credit for my blog design goes to my daughter, Stephanie, who blogs over at The Enchanting Rose. Click on her picture to visit her lovely place.